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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Product Review: Mighty Punch

My name is Francesca, and I am a tool-o-holic. If it has to do with punching, piercing, sawing, hammering, forming or forging metal, I promise you I have drooled over it in a magazine or online. (I'm not the only person with a Rio Grande catalogue on my coffee table, am I??)

But in spite of my affinity for all things metal-tool-related, I skipped over this tool more times than I can count. It doesn't look very sexy (at least when compared to a Fretz hammer, my current unrequited love), and I have a perfectly good set of Pepe disc cutters that I love (and use) a lot. "Pooh-pooh," I said. "Who needs a set of hole punching pliers?"

Turns out I did.

I love putting holes in metal. I have some good hole-punch pliers that I use a lot, including a pretty good parallel hole punch plier that is my go-to for wire-sized holes when I'm doing homemade rivets. But anything larger than that has always required using my disc cutters - and as much as I love them, they leave a burr on the side opposite the cut that requires cleanup and multiple blows with a hammer. They're wonderful for when I'm actually cutting discs, but not so great when what I'm after is the hole. Enter the Mighty Punch (or the Power Punch, as some models are called).

Holes and dots made with my Mighty Punch and a plain center punch.

Y'all. I am in love.

Here's the summary: This tool punches perfect holes that require almost no cleanup, in seven sizes ranging from 3/32" to 9/32". It does not distort the metal at all, which is a big deal for me, though it does leave a dimple on the disc that is removed. And although it took me a little time to figure out, it's very easy to operate.

The tool comes in a plastic case to hold all the parts. It includes the plier itself; seven die sets; and a flat metal tool for unscrewing the screws and the die sets. It has two drawbacks. The first is that it is large and heavy, and a little unwieldy. It is definitely not possible to operate this with one hand.

The second is that swapping out the die sets is a little "fiddly" (to borrow a term from my UK friends!), at least initially. I include this as a drawback, because it might be off-putting to some of you, but honestly, once I figured it out and practiced a couple of times, it wasn't bad at all.

Flat metal tool included to unscrew screws and dies.

Once loosened, the screw comes out easily with your fingers.

Pull the top handle back...

... then drop the lever arm (which you previously unscrewed) out and down.

Now the punch is loose in the shaft...

... and can be pulled out with your fingers.

The die screws in and out of the bottom of the pliers with your fingers too.

The punches and dies come in matching sets.

Punching the holes is pretty easy too. It's a good idea to use a center punch to mark the center of the hole you want to cut out - each of the dies has a small point in the center of the cutting face, and the punch mark will give it a "home base" when you're lining up your metal.

I've found it easiest to line up the metal to punch by turning the tool sideways and bracing the bottom handle in my cleavage. (Hey - just being real here). As a lefty, I use my left hand to work the top handle and my right to position and hold the metal that I'm punching. The temptation then is to brace one of the plier handles against a table or bench top and press down, but I promise that will earn you pinched fingers and a bent piece of metal. Much easier is to hold one handle in each hand, hold it at chest level, and press your hands together. (Remember "we must, we must, we must increase our... "? Like that.) The dies cut through even heavy gauge metal very easily and no pinched fingers!

20 gauge copper sheet can be punched with just a little effort.

After making the hole, the opening action of the handles pulls the metal cleanly off the punch.

Clean, perfect, distortion-free hole with a very slightly beveled edge.

Works on thinner sheet too, without distortion.

See? No distortion on thick or thin sheet. Clean holes with a tiny little bevel on the cut edge - cleans up with a few swipes of sandpaper. The tool also has a depth gauge if you're trying to do precise punches, but to be honest I've never used it. It's adjustable, so I just moved it back and out of the way. It's not a feature I've ever used.

So, in short, I am very happy to recommend this tool to anyone who works with metal a lot. It's terrific for cold connection projects, but I use it mostly for adding design elements. I've found it under two names: Beadsmith's Mighty Punch and Euro Power Punch. Prices range from $41 to $52, and in my opinion it's worth every penny. I have the Beadsmith version and I've been really happy with it. It gets a ton of use on my bench and has stood up to it well - the punches have stayed sharp, but if they were ever to fail, replacement punches are available.

This is one of my favorite recent tool additions to my bench - what's yours?

Until next time!

NOTE: I am not affiliated with Beadsmith or any other manufacturer and I have not been compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

26 comments
:

Thanks for being so real and walking us through those maneuvers--I'd wondered how manageable one of those might be. Of course I'd want to use the punched disks, too, so I'd like to see that dimple, but overall your review is really thorough and helpful! (And I just love your piece in the 2nd photo.)

Thanks, Gale! That piece is reflective of some of my current work - I am REALLY getting into fold forming, though I feel like I am just barely scratching the surface.

I should have thought to post a photo of the cutout piece with the dimple - don't know why I didn't. Sorry about that! I'll see if I can get a decent photo and update the post. Thanks for the feedback!

I too have bought this tool a couple of months back, and its super useful! I store it under my table and I really sit on the floor while punching holes because, I almost dropped it on my feet once, and mind you, its quite heavy! But it does its job way too perfectly, so I adjusted with the guy by altering my worksurface just when I use it! lol And I found it quite useful to oil the parts a bit to cause the insertion and removal of die a bit easier. I bought mine from Michaels when I had a 60% off coupon, I got it for 27$ I guess! Yup it is cool!

I bought one several month ago and just couldn't figure it out.... Ill go back and try with your tips.... Hope it works for me.... I'm too a "Tool Freak" I've got one Fretz hammer and its my most used one... Can't wait to add more.... Thanks for the tips and later on ill head into studio to give it a go...:)

Excellent review - makes me want to run right out and get one!! But let me just correct you a teensie, tiny bit: You do not have 'cleavage' - you are possessed of a portable shelving unit. Why else would it be so handy to balance bead cups and catch all manner of crumbs and chocolate bits before they hit the floor? It does not surprise me that it also serves as a second set of opposable thumbs when the need arises. :-)

I have been wondering about this tool--I have a big hand punch I got from Harbor Freight that I use for punching out discs for beadcaps, but it is wearing out and they don't seem to carry it anymore. I can use my disc cutter for larger beadcaps but not the smaller ones. I almost bought this punch but couldn't tell from the pictures if there were dimples on the punches--I need the dimples! When I make beadcaps, I draw circles on my metal sheet with a template, mark the centers with a sharpie (I just eyeball it), punch the center holes with my Beadsmith hole punch pliers, and then punch the disc out with the hand punch, inserting the dimple into the hole I made. Then I get discs with perfectly centered holes every time. I will often hammer texture the metal before punching out the discs to avoid having to hammer each disc individually. Beadcaps go super fast this way. I make them by the dozens. (Off to get a new hand punch...)

Brilliant idea Keirsten. I have had this tool for a couple years and so far the dies are showing no sign of getting dull. I use it for a larger hole in my metal stampings before I enamel them, I also use the holes as a design element. I have seen the dies available for sale if they ever need replacement.

Wonderful review and pictures! I have this tool and use it occasionally... the pinched fingers and awkwardness has been a bit discouraging. Can I ask, when putting the punch and die into the thing, how far up do you screw the die? It seems like I'm doing something wrong most of the time. And then once, I opened the case upside down - it's now marked "THIS SIDE UP DUMMY!"

Wonderful review and pictures! I have this tool and use it occasionally... the pinched fingers and awkwardness has been a bit discouraging. Can I ask, when putting the punch and die into the thing, how far up do you screw the die? It seems like I'm doing something wrong most of the time. And then once, I opened the case upside down - it's now marked "THIS SIDE UP DUMMY!"